In the depths of the Okitan region, on the banks of the Garonne River, lies France's fourth largest city, Toulouse, also known as The Pink City. Although it may not be a major tourist attraction, the beauty of Toulouse lies in its slow-paced lifestyle. This city is a perfect place to enjoy the rhythm of daily life in France: wonderful markets, beautiful architecture, one of the world's most famous wine bars, and prices that are quite reasonable compared to Paris or Nice.
1. Have Coffee at Place du Capitole and People Watch
This is the central square of Toulouse, featuring a magnificent neoclassical palace. The Capitole houses the city council, the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse opera company, and the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. The façade, made of brick and marble, looks stunning both during the day and at night. The iconic Grand Café Le Florida is an ideal place to have coffee here — the prices are reasonable for its location, and the view is enchanting.
2. Visit the Famous Palm Tree at Convent des Jacobins
You can discover the beauty of the famous Toulouse palm tree at the beautiful Dominican Church, Convent des Jacobins. Slender columns support the high church's Gothic ceiling. One of the columns creates an ornate structure resembling a palm tree by carrying the 22 ribs of the choir ceiling.
3. Admire Toulouse's Pastel Blue Shutters and Doors
Although known as the Pink City, the pastel blue shutters and doors of Toulouse's houses will catch your eye as you stroll through the city. This tradition, dating back to the Renaissance, is the trade of a blue dye called 'cocagne' developed by the local merchants of Toulouse. These blue balls were highly sought after by the aristocracy of Toulouse, Albi, and Carcassonne, bringing great wealth to the region.
4. Visit the Market by the Garonne River
If the weather is nice, head to the banks of the Garonne River and enjoy the stunning view of Pont Saint Pierre. After admiring the view for a while, continue your walk along the river. There is a fantastic flea market here on Sundays, overflowing with old and interesting objects and filled with extraordinary personalities associated with such markets.
5. Try Flavors at Sorbet D’Amour
Just around the corner from the market, stop by the excellent Sorbet D’Amour ice cream shop. The flavors here are far beyond the ordinary — options include Armagnac Plum, Sea Salt Caramel, and even Tarte Tatin.
6. Get a Macaron from Au Poussin Bleu
Address: 5 Rue du Languedoc, 31000 Toulouse
Toulouse's oldest pastry shop has been serving sweet-loving locals since 1931. Known for its cakes and chocolates, this bakery's specialty is macarons — flavors include pistachio, Nutella, raspberry, salted caramel, and almond paste.
7. Taste Cassoulet at Maison Garcia
Toulouse is the home of the classic French dish cassoulet — a slow-cooked casserole containing white beans, pork, the famous Toulouse sausages, and confit de canard. My recommendation is to get cassoulet from Maison Garcia, a butcher shop inside Marché Victor Hugo, France's oldest covered market. Established in 1961, Maison Garcia is famous for its rillettes, ham, saucisson sec, and Toulouse sausages. Their cassoulets won the World's Best Cassoulet Award in 2024 — a remarkable achievement!
8. Enjoy a Glass of Wine at the Unique N°5 Wine Bar
Selected as the World's Best Wine Bar by The World of Fine Wine in June 2017, the ambiance of N°5 Wine Bar is wonderful, and so are the varieties of wine. Choose a pre-selected wine by the bottle or glass, accompanied by suitable snacks.
9. Be an Astronaut for a Day at Cité de l’espace
Cité de l’Espace, or Space City, is a fantastic theme park located on the eastern edge of Toulouse. It’s a perfect place for a fun day with the family. The park features many open and closed exhibits and installations, from full-scale models of the Ariane 5 rocket to the Mir space station and Soyuz models. Highlights include a planetarium with a capacity of 280 and an IMAX cinema with 300 seats.
10. Walk or Cycle Along the Canal du Midi
The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site that connects Toulouse to the Mediterranean, is a real opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. You can walk in the shade of the long plane trees or rent a bike to explore the canal at your own pace — this is one of the best slow travel experiences you can find in southern France. Start from Port de l’Embouchure, where three canals intersect, and continue from there. If you have more time, you can hop on a boat for further exploration.
Comments
(3 Comments)